Air pressure signaling device for molding apparatus



1366- 1949 J. TULLER ET AL AIR PRESSURE SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1, 1947 6 w m m w; c R m T H M L W A W L N a W U w mm w w m A 7 NE 30 Z8 6/ 59 3 612/ 39 36 37g3 INSUL Patented Dec. 27, 1949 AIR PRESSURE SIGNALING'DEVICE FOR MOLDING APPARATUS John Tuller, Stratford, and Albert Tuller, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application February 1, 1947, Serial No. 725,846

12 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in molding apparatus and has parshown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications .as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing a .connection between a source of compressed air and a mold, the signal means of the invention being incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional View through one end portion of said means, the View bein on a slightly enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the other end portion of said means;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken as along the plane of the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken as .along the plane of the line ll of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken as .along the plane of the line 88 of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawing, at In is indicated a portion of a tank or container for compressed air or a part of a pipe connection 'to such tank or container. For the purpose of this description, 10 will be hereinafter referred to as a connection and it will be understood that such connection may be at a container or may represent the end of a pipe remote from but connected with the container. I

At II is shown a threaded stem or nipple connected with an inflatable device (not shown) as,

'for example, the inflatable bag or core of a mold structure.

The mold structure referred to is, generally speaking, of the type used in the applying of treads to tires and the like. However,

it will be understood that the present invention applies generally to a means for connecting a source of compressed air :or of air under pressure with an inflatable device.

The connecting means of the'invent'lon is gen- 2 erally designated l2 and the same includes an attachment l3 at one end of a hose l4 and at the other end-of which hose there is a part l5 of a detachable connection l6, such connection also including a part I! detachable from the part i5 and connected with the nipple ll.

As herein disclosed, the hose [4 comprises an inner tubular rubber portion l8 about which there is located a metalsheathing 19. As shown, this sheathing comprises a woven metal structure whereby vit will protect the inner rubber portion of the .hose and in accordance with the present invention, such woven metal structure forms a portion of an electrical-circuit, as will later fully appear.

Theattachment 13 includes a body portion 20 which is substantially hollow and has a passage entirely therethrough. Within an enlarged portion of this passage, one end portion 2i of the rubber I8 is received and is wedgedly held between the inner walls of the body and a portion of a threaded'stem 22. At the attachment, the sheathing l 9 is expanded and disposed on an end portion of the attachment and is gripped between said end portion and a sleeve 23 threaded to the body 20.

In this way, one end of the hose [4 is securely anchored to the attachment l3 and in addition, the sheathing [9 at said end portion of the hose is in electrical engagement with a metal body 20. The stem 22 above referred to comprises a part of a nipple-like device including a fiatted portion 2 4 to be engaged by a wrench and a threaded portion 25 beyond said portion 25 and threaded into the connection I0. About the end portion of the'body 20, remote from the threaded sleeve 23, is a ring 26 of insulating material, the purpose of which will later fully be set forth.

The separable two-part coupling device is has its part l5 secured to the other end portion of the hose Hi. This coupling part comprises a body 21 having a passage entirely therethrough and into an enlarged portion of which passage an end-portion 28 of the rubber hose It is received. Such portion of the hose is more or less squeezed or wedged between the inner surface of the body and the outer surface of a stem 29 which is threaded into the body.

As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the respective end portions 2| and 28 of the rubber hose I3 are secured in the bodies "20 and 21 by compression of the-received-portions of the hose. Further-,itis

:notedithat the bodies and 21 are internally threaded and that the stems 22 and 29 are exand partly within the washer of the stem will cam 3 ternally threaded so that there is a biting into the material of the hose !6.

The end portion of the sheathing !9 adjacent the body 21 is anchored to such body in such manner as to mechanically secure these parts together and to provide electrical contact between them. Thus, the end portion of the sheathing is expanded and disposed about an end portion of body 2'! and is clamped to such portion by means of a ring 39 threaded to the body.

Stem 29 comprises a portion of a device generally designated 3! and in addition to said stem including an intermediate portion 32 having flat sides for engagement by a wrench or the like and an opposite head-like end portion 33 having therein a chamber 34. As shown, there is a passage 35 entirely through the device 3! including the stem or nipple portion 29 thereof.

Threaded to the head-like portion 33 of the device 3! is a clutch or fastening device part in the form of a cage 36 which is generally cylindrical and is provided in its walls with a series of openings each receiving an incompressible metal ball 31. Within one end, the cage 36 is provided with a washer 38 on which is disposed a relatively thick gasket 39, the washer and gasket being held in place between the free end of the head 33 of device 3! and an internal shoulder 49 of the cage 36.

A valve comprising a head 4! and a hollow stem 42 is located partly within the chamber 34 38 and gasket 39. As shown, the valve has lateral or radial openings 43 through its stem portion and the latter is hollow. When the coupling parts !5 and ll are separated, a coil spring 44 functions to maintain the valve with its head 4! seated against the gasket 39 to prevent the movement of compressed air from the hose !4 out through the coupling part !5.

Surrounding the cage 36 and a good portion of the device 3| is a sleeve 45. This sleeve is normally held in the position in which it is shown by means of a coil spring 46 abutting an internal shoulder 41 of the sleeve and the inner side of a radial flange-like portion 48 of the device 3!. When the sleeve is so positioned, its internally thickened portion 49 is located at the outer sides of the balls 31 and maintains them in the inner positions in which they are shown.

However, this sleeve 45 may be slid forwardly, or to the left as the device is viewed in Fig. 4, by compression of the spring 46. When this is done, as internal radial enlargement 56 f the sleeve is brought' over the balls 3'! and the same may move radially outwardly permitting of separation of the coupling parts and I! as will later be more fully described.

The coupling part I 1, as shown, includes a body 5! having a threaded recess 52 receiving a portion of the stem or nipple I! of the inflatable device (not shown). Projecting from the other end of the body 5! is a stem-like portion 53 of an external diameter to be received in the cage 36. This stem-like portion 53 has an annular groove 54 so located as to have the balls 31 enter partially thereinto when the parts !1 and I5 are coupled. Thus, it will be seen that on insertion of the stem 53 into the cage 35, the parts !5 and I! are secured together.

To accomplish this, the sleeve 45 is shifted forwardly as above described to bring the enlargement 5!! opposite the balls whereupon on insertion of the stem into the cage, the forward end the balls outwardly and then the balls W111 is secured an annulus drop partially into the groove 54. Thereupon, on release of the sleeve, the spring 46 returns it to normal position so that the balls are then held in their inner positions by the internally enlarged portion 49 of the sleeve. It is here noted that as the stem 53 of the coupling part !1 is inserted into the cage in the manner described, the forward or inner end of such stem engages the stem 42 of the valve and shifts the same to the position of Fig. 4 whereupon the passage 35 above described is in communication through the chamber 34 and the lateral ports 43 of the valve stem with a passage 55 through the coupling IT.

The coupling parts !5 and I'll, in addition to the structure above described, includes certain means for the completion of an electrical circuit through these parts. To such end, a ring 56 of insulating material is arranged on the body 21 and against the forward face of such ring there 51 of brass or other conducting metal. To such annulus, a second annulus 53 is secured and it is noted that these two parts are secured together and to the ring 56 as by an anchoring screw 59 and that the annulus 53 is bent adjacent the said anchoring screw and extends diagonally forwardly,

The diagonal portion of the annulus 5-8 is constantly in with a conducting ring 69 mounted on a ring ti of insulating material carried by the sleeve 45. A conductor 62 passes through said sleeve and is insulated therefrom and further, this conductor passes through an insulating piece 63 fastened to the outer or free end of the sleeve by rivets the like 64. On the front end of the insulating piece 53, a contact element 65 is located and the same is electrically connected. with the conductor 52. From what has been said, it will be apparent that the annuli 57 and 58, the ring 69, the conductor 62, and the contact provide a path for electrical current through but insulated from the metal parts of the coupling part it.

On the inner face of the body 5! of the coupling part i! there is mounted a ring or annulus 66 of insulating mater al, the same being secured in place as by screws 65. 6n the outer face of such ring there is located an annulus or ring 68 of conducting material, as for example, brass. Carried by the conducting ring is a conducting prong 89 passing through insulator l3 nreaded or otherwise mounted in the outer end portion of a cylinder construction Also mounted in said cylinder construction is an insulating disc 'i! having a conducting pin 72 passing therethrough and anchored at its upper and lower ends as by metal discs 13 and '14. The pin "12 is aligned with the inner end of the prong 69 and is constantly edged toward such prong as by a spring 775 but is restrained from such movement by a stronger spring 16. The spring '25 seats against the metal disc 14 and against the bottom wall of the cylinder 19a and thus is in electrical engagement with a part of the body 5!.

A branch 17 connects the passage with the bottom or inner end of cylinder 73a. With this construction, when air under a predetermined pressure is admitted to or built up in the passage 55 and branch 11, the disc structure carrying the pin 12 is moved outwardly against the action of the spring 16 until such pin engages the prong 69, making electrical contact therewith. The result of this action will later appear. Extending through the body 20 of the attach- .from the latter.

ment 1.3 a conductor .18 which is insulated "from the attachment and passes along between theihose l8 and the sheathing Hand-is insulated Further, this conductor passes through the zbody'z'l of thecoupling part 15 and through theinsulating ring 56 and is electrically connected with .theannulus 51.

,At the attachment :end, the conductor 18 is electricallyconnected with an ear-like extension 19 :carried by a metal conducting ring 80. An attaching lug '81 .is fastened to the ring as .by a screw 82. Electrically connected with the lug BI ,is a lead83 of acircuitincluding an electric bulb or other signalling device 84,.atransformer 85 and :a lead 86. As shown, the transformer 85 disconnected .with ,a suitable sourceof current through wires 18! and an .attachment plug 88. fireferably, the transformer 8,5 is asix-volt transformer.

With theconstruction describedit will be clear that when the attachment [-3 is secured to the connection i and .the coupling part I] is-secured tov .the stem .or nipple .l I, .the whole present connecting means is open for the passage of air under pressure from the-connection throughthe attachment l3 and hose M to the coupling part .15 and hence through the .valve stem .42 to the passage 55 and the nipple orstem H. At this time, there is a circuit from the transformer through the bulk) or other signalling device 84 and therlng Bil/and ear 1.9 to the conductor 18. Thence the circuit is through the iannulii] and 5.8 to the .ring 1.60 and the conductor ,62 to the contact 55 and thence to the conducting ring 68 and prong .69..

- vNow,. if thereisa predetermined pressure in the branch II of .the air passage, thepin 1.2 .will be in engagement with the prong .59 whereby .the latter will be electricallyconnectedwith thebody 5|. Body 5| includes thestem portion .53 which isin'engagement with thecageBB and thus with the .device .3! to the body v.Z'I. The body .21, through the metal sheathing .l9 .is electrically connected with the body of the attachment I3 and the ,latter through thestem .22 intermediate part 24 and stem ornipple 25 is electrically connected .with the connection .Ill and through the wire..86 backthroughthe transformer 85 to the plug.8.8. I11hus,.it will beseen that with the con.-

structionshownand described, whenever the air pressure being applied to the inflatable .device is at or above a predetermined point, the pin 12 will ..be in engagement with the prong 69 and a circuit will be closed through the signalling vdevice 8,4.

,On failure of the air pressure forany reason, I

thesignal 8.4 will not .be energized. Thus, when the. present connecting means is employed, for example, in a shop where tires are vretreaded, the attendant will be notified,ibyextinguishment of the bulb 84, should there be a failure of air underpressure totheinflatable bag orcore being used in theretreadinglmold. In this connection, it will be understood ,tha'tjfrequently a greatdeal of .laborandmaterial is lost due to the failure 01'. the airpressure during the processo'f vulcanizin treads or .retreads onto tires.

If the air pressure is not maintained .at the proper .point during the vulcanization period. a poor tread stock and the necessity for repeating the vulcanization operation with new tread. stock. With'the connecting means of the present invention, this maybe avoided as a distinctsignol will be .siven at anytime there is a Iailure .of air ,job is obtained resulting in waste of the pressure. zFurther,fthetsignal-circuit.is-tconnected up by the simpleroperation of coupling together the separable coupling parts l5 and I] and this further automatically establishes the line for-the air .under pressuresince it results in unseating ofthe valve 4 I.

When the parts l5 and H are uncoupled,v in the manner above described, byvfirstshifting the sleeve forwardly, the air line is automatically closed by the valve 41 and the electric circuit is disrupted since part of such circuit isthroughthe coupling part 'l'l. Due-to'the connection between the annuli 51 and 58 and 60, it will be seen that there is nothing to-interior with forward movement or thesleeve 45 whenthe parts 15 and I! are to be coupled 'or uncoupled. v

This merely results in flexing of the forwardly bent portion-of the annulus EB'but the same is'of spring stock and "follows the sleeve when it returns tonormal and-at all times serves to-maintain the contact or circuit between the annuli il andfill. Additionally, this circuit is maintained regardless of any turning of the sleeve 45 about its :longitudinal axis. Likewise, due tothe use of the annulustltnocare is requiredin couplin of the parts'l5and lTsince-thecontactiliwillalways engagesome part of said annulus.

It is also to be understood that the present means may be used for purposes other than in connectionwith tire capping molds. For-example, themeans of theinventionmay be used inthe air brake systems of trucks and thelike, here air under pressure is to be suppliedto a cylinder and pistonlconstruction. Further, while the apparatus has been described as employed in connection with compressed air, .it may be used where other fluids under pressure are .beingconveyed.

Having thus set forth the nature of ourinvention, .what we claimis:

1. In a molding apparatus, a first metal coupling part forattachment to the .inflatablebag or core .of a mold, a hoseincluding a core of electrical insulatingmaterial and a metal sheathing about said core, a metalv attachment on one end of said hose for connection with a source of compressed air, asecond metal coupling part on the other end of saidhoseland complimental to the first coupling .partior cooperation therewith to connect'thesource of compressed air with said inflatable bagor core, said sheathing in engagement with said attachmentand said secondcoupling part, an electricalconductor passing through said attachment and along saidhose and through the second coupling part and insulated fromall of them, a. contact element on the free end of the second coupling part and electrically connected wlthsai'd conductor, ,a contact on thefirst coupling part and insulated therefrom and adaptedto be engaged by said contact element when said coupling parts are coupled .for the passage of compressed air to said bag or core, means in the first coupling part and shiitable iby compressed air when'thelatter is supplied thereto to electrically connectksaid ,contact to said part. said coupling parts includ n metal porti n gin whensaidpartsare coupled whereby the shifting oflsaid means closes acircuit from said conductor through said coupling parts and said sheathing to said attachment and the container for the source of compressed air, and a circuit connected with said conductorand grounded on the vcontain forthe compressedairandincludirlaatransformer .and ameans .to be ener ized when said \Gircult ,is closed .as said .means in theflrst coupling .nartisshifted.

2. In a means for connecting a source 01' compressed air and an inflatable device, said means comprising a flexible hose, an attachment on one end of said hose for connection with a source of compressed air, a detachable coupling including a pair of parts of which the first part is secured to the other end of said hose and the second part is adapted to be secured to an inflatable device, a shiftable contact in one of said parts, spring means for maintaining said contact in a normal position and operable to return it to said position when moved therefrom and released, means for shifting said contact from normal position when air under a predetermined pressure is supplied to said coupling part, and a circuit controlled by said contact.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein one of said contact elements and said contact is in the form of an annulus for electrical engagement of said contact element and said contact in any coupled position of said first and second coupling parts.

4. The means as in claim 2 wherein said circuit includes independent conducting paths from said attachment to said coupling and return.

5. The means as in claim 2 including a conductor from said attachment to said coupling and insulated from both of them, a metal sheathing about said hose and electrically connecting the coupling and the attachment, and a make and break means between said coupling parts and automatically connected on coupling of said parts.

6. The means as in claim 2 wherein said shiftable contact comprises a piston-like means and wherein said coupling part includes a cylinder construction in which said contact is located and is shiftable. V

7. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the second coupling part includes a sleeve shiftable longitudinally to release the first and second coupling parts for separation, said conductor in-' cluding a portion passing through said sleeve, a contact connected with said conductor portion and carried by but insulated from said sleeve, a spring contact engaging said contact and comprising part of said conductor, and said spring contact mounted to collapse and expand and maintain said conductor continuous as said sleeve is moved to bring about release of the coupling parts for separation and as said sleeve is moved in the opposite direction.

8. In a means for connecting a source of fluid under pressure and a device, said means comprising a flexible hose, an attachment on one end oi said hose for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, a detachable coupling including a pair of parts of which the first part is secured to the other end of said hose and the second part is adapted to be secured to a device, a shiftable contact in one of said parts, spring means for maintaining said contact in normal position and operable to return it to, said position when moved therefrom and released, means for shifting said contact from normal position when fluid under a predetermined pressure is supplied to said coupling part, and a circuit controlled by said contact.

9. In a means for making a connection for the passage of fluid under pressure from a source to a device and to simultaneously provide for the establishment of an electric circuit on the flow of fluid under pressure from a source through said means to a device, said means comprising a flexible hose, an attachment at one end of said hose for connection with a source of fluid under pres sure, a detachable coupling comprising a. pair of parts of which the first part is secured to the other end of said hose and the second part is adapted to be secured to a device, complemental portions on said parts for coupling them together on relative movement thereof for the passage of fluid under pressure from the first to the second part, manually releasable means for securing said parts in coupled together relation whereby they may be easily and quickly uncoupled, an electrical contact on each of said coupling parts, a conductor mechanically connected to and electrically insulated from said attachment and extending along said hose and electrically connected with the contact on the first coupling part at all times, means insulating the contact on the second coupling part therefrom, said contacts on the coupling parts located to engage one another on coupling of said parts together for the passage of fluid under pressure through the first part to the second part, and means whereby the contact of the second part is electrically connected with said second part on movement of fluid under predetermined pressure from the first to the second coupling part.

10. In a means for making a connection for the passage of fluid under pressure from a source to a device and to simultaneously provide for the establishment of an electric circuit on the flow of fluid under pressure from a source through said means to a device, said means comprising a flexible hose, an attachment at one end of said hose for connection with a source of fluid under pressure, a detachable coupling comprising a pair of parts of which the first part is secured to the other end of said hose and the second part is adapted to be secured to a device, complemental portions on said parts for. coupling them together on relative movement thereof for the passage of fluid under pressure from the first to the second part, manually releasable means for securing said parts in coupled together relation whereby they may be easily and quickly uncoupled, an electrical contact on each of said coupling parts, a conductor mechanically connected to and electrically insulated from said attachment and extending along said hose and electrically connected with the contact on'the first coupling part at all times, means insulating the contact on the second coupling part therefrom, means whereby said electrical contacts on the coupling parts are electrically connected together on coupling of said parts together for the passage of fluid under pressure through the first part to the second part, and means whereby the contact of the second part is electrically connected with said second part on movement of fluid under predetermined pressure from the first to the second coupling part.

11. A connecting means of the character described comprising a first coupling part adapted to be connected to a device for the passage to said device of fluid under pressure, a second coupling part adapted to be coupled with said first part for the passage of fluid under pressure through said second to said first part, means for connecting said second part to an end of a flexible hose, said second part having a passage therethrough for the movement of fluid under pressure from a hose through said second part to said first part when said parts are coupled together, said first part having a passage therethrough to receive fluid under pressure from the second part and deliver it to a device to which the first part may be connected, an electrical contact on each of said coupling parts, means insulating the contact on the first coupling part therefrom, means whereby the contacts on the coupling parts are electrically connected together on the coupling of said parts together for the passage of fluid under pressure through the second part to the first part, and means whereby the contact on the first part is electrically connected with said first part on movement of fluid under predetermined pressure from the second into the first coupling part.

12. A connecting means of the character described comprising a first coupling part adapted to be connected to a device for the passage to said device of fluid under pressure, a second coupling part adapted to be coupled with said first part for the passage of fluid under pressure through said second to said first part, means for connecting said second part to an end of a flexible hose, said second part having a passage therethrough for the movement of fluid under pressure from a hose through said second part to said first part when said parts are coupled together, said first part having a passage therethrough to receive fluid under pressure from the second part and deliver it to a device to which the first part may be connected, an electrical contact on each of said coupling parts, means insulating the contact on the first coupling part therefrom, means whereby the contacts on the coupling parts are electrically connected together on the coupling of said parts together for the passage of fluid under pressure through the secend part to the first part, means providing a cylinder in said first part and a branch from said passage to one end of said cylinder, an extension from the contact on the first part and entering said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder and normally spaced from said extension, means on said piston to close an electric connection between said extension and said first part on contact with said extension, and said piston movable in said cylinder to engage said means with said extension on movement of fluid under predetermined pressure through said branch to said cylinder.

JOHN TULLER. ALBERT TULLER.

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